A multifunctional nano carrier to detect, diagnose, and deliver drugs to cancer cells

October 31, 2013

(Credit: University of Cincinnati)

A unique nanostructure developed by a team of international researchers* promises improved all-in-one detection, diagnoses, and drug-delivery treatment of cancer cells.

It can carry a variety of cancer-fighting materials on its double-sided (Janus) surface and within its porous interior and can:

Transport cancer-specific detection nanoparticles and biomarkers to a site within the body, e.g., the breast or the prostate. This promises earlier diagnosis than is possible with today’s tools.

Attach fluorescent marker materials to illuminate specific cancer cells, so that they are easier to locate and find for treatment by drug delivery or surgery.

Deliver anti-cancer drugs for pinpoint-targeted treatment of cancer cells. Currently, a cancer treatment like chemotherapy affects not only cancer cells but healthy cells as well, leading to serious and often debilitating side effects.

Carry multiple components in a single assembly and function in an intelligent manner, thanks to its functionally and chemically distinct surface.

He also said the nano carrier’s promise is currently greatest for cancers that are close to the body’s surface, such as breast and prostate cancer.

Currently, the most common methods used in cancer diagnosis are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT), which are costly and time-consuming to use, the researchers note.

In addition, nanotechnology like the Janus structure would better control the drug dose, since that dose would be targeted to cancer cells, so anticancer drugs could be used much more efficiently. That would, in turn, lower the total amount of drug administered, according to the researchers.

“Currently we’re moving forward to have this nano-carrier tested in-vivo. We’re also trying to scale up the production of the Janus nanocomposites. We already have the prototype of analysis kit using this nanocomposite and we’re planning on filing a patent on it,” researcher Feng Wang, a postdoc at the University of Houston, explained to KurzweilAI.

The work was supported by via grants from the National Science Foundation (No. IOS-0843424); National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51003077, No. 51173135, and No. 51073121); Shanghai Nano-program (No. 11nm0506011); and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities.

* Researchers are Feng Wang, a former UC doctoral student and now a postdoc at the University of Houston; Donglu Shi, professor of materials science and engineering at UC’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS); Yilong Wang of Tongji University, Shanghai, China; Giovanni Pauletti, UC associate professor of pharmacy; Juntao Wang of Tongji University, China; Jiaming Zhang of Stanford University; and Rodney Ewing of Stanford University.

Comments (17)

If, one day, the efficacy of this device or its successors proves to save lives on a massive scale, then on that golden day in the future, will we be able to surmise who got in the way of it? Will we be able to “take them out to the desert”, never to return?

We ask this question (and others) for all articles we publish. In this case, this was their reply, as noted (no further details available) — we will update this if we get further information in the future:

“Currently we’re moving forward to have this nano-carrier tested in-vivo. We’re also trying to scale up the production of the Janus nanocomposites. We already have the prototype of analysis kit using this nanocomposite and we’re planning on filing a patent on it,” researcher Feng Wang, a postdoc at the University of Houston, explained to KurzweilAI.

I know this reply was not for me, but I just would like to acknowledge I, for one, did notice you people started to ask this whenever possible for some time now. You’re slowly regaining my respect. Congratulations.

I’m extremely happy, I just don’t tend to share it with the undeRserving unwashed masses.
A revolution to me would be the supposedly possible ‘molecular machines’ of Eric Drexler, not a more targetable sitting duck. (however useful, but i’m not questioning that)

ha, I wish I was that powerful!
The NSA knows I’m nothing but a weakling pathetic fool, if you allow me to quote the great philosopher and humanitarian, Shao Kahn.

But who knows, that one might be bri finally being greeted by the ubber god of the singularity, in the cloud of course, as s/he is saved by gay gAI.. the outfit, as everything else, is meant not to intimidate the newly assimilated human.

Ps.: If you are that clever, you can even find contact information to warn me of your progress… cya